Paris discovers the other side of Ferran Torres

Paris Saint-Germain fans are witnessing a familiar side of Spanish forward Ferran Torres, who has failed to score in his last 8 consecutive matches. This notable decline contrasts sharply with his exceptional start at the French club, which made him one of the standout stars of Ligue 1 during September.

Ferran Torres has not been able to find the net since September 20, when he scored against Marseille, thus ending a remarkable scoring streak that saw him net 7 goals in his first 6 matches, before being awarded the Ligue 1 Player of the Month for September. Since then, the player has entered his first difficult period in his Parisian experience, amid questions about his ability to regain his scoring touch.

Expectations were that Torres would take on a bigger role in light of the absence of Ousmane Dembélé and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia due to injury, but he did not capitalize on the opportunity as expected, with players like Mika Gudjotz, Maiolo, and Akliush taking on the scoring responsibilities. His role in big matches has also diminished, as he sat on the bench during the match against Villarreal last Wednesday.

In the last match against Troyes, which ended in a win for Paris Saint-Germain by a goal to nil, Ferran Torres started but missed three clear chances, along with another shot that did not find the target, continuing his struggles in front of goal. Some media interpretations in France link this decline to a problem regarding the player's self-confidence.

A familiar decline from Barcelona.

The Spanish newspaper "Sport" sees that what is happening with Ferran Torres in Paris is not new; it recalls similar periods he experienced during his time with FC Barcelona. It points out that his strong scoring start raised expectations, even though his career has not seen consistency in scoring at a high rate all the time.

Ferran Torres scored 13 goals in 36 matches for Manchester City during the 2020-2021 season, before netting 7 goals in 45 matches for FC Barcelona in the 2022-2023 season, and then 11 goals in 42 matches during the following season. His scoring form saw a notable improvement in the 2024-2025 and 2025-2026 seasons, as he scored 19 goals in 45 matches, followed by 21 goals in 49 matches consecutively.

Despite these numbers, Torres has not scored at a rate of one goal every two matches even during his best seasons, and he has previously experienced long periods without scoring. In 2024, he reached 16 consecutive official matches without scoring, during the period from January 21 to September 1, noting that this streak was interrupted by an injury that kept him out for nearly two months.

The player struggled last season with FC Barcelona, going 14 matches without scoring before ending that streak with two goals against RCD Espanyol Barcelona on April 11, having not found the net since January 31. His worst run with the Catalan team was 20 matches without scoring during the 2022-2023 season.

**Luis Enrique is not worried**

Despite a decline in scoring effectiveness, Ferran Torres' contribution is not limited to scoring goals, as he is characterized by his continuous movements and ability to create space behind the opponents' defenses, along with his activity in pressing the ball carrier, which are elements that give him added value within the attacking system.

In this context, analyst Fermín Suárez previously praised the player's abilities, confirming that he "understands what Luis Enrique wants". He also described him as a versatile player who is consistently available and does not suffer from injuries often.

Luis Enrique is not worried about his forwards' decline in form, commenting on the criticism aimed at Ferran Torres: "In the past, everyone was concerned about Mika Godts, and now the concern is about Ferran. The forwards miss chances and score goals."

The Spanish coach added: "For me, the key thing is that the forwards continue to get great scoring opportunities," referring to his confidence in his players' ability to regain their effectiveness in front of goal.